Extensible curtain rod device



Apli127 1943- J.' Dl MARTINO 2,317,893

. EXTENSIBLE 'CURTAIN AROD DEVICE Filed Dec. 26,1942

Z7 5 z I Z7 g IN1/Evol v Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE EXTENSIBLE CURTAIN ROD DEVICE John Di Martino, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 26, 1942, Serial No. 470,232'

(ci. .2u-105.3)

6 Claims.

This invention relates to extensible curtain rod devices.

' One object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed having improved means whereby an extensible curtain rod andits Aholders are adapted to be made of wood.'

' It will be appreciated that extensible curtain rod devices when madewholly and completely of wood in all features and details, createproblems which did not exist in metal devices, particularly so ifVquantity production is considered and if 'the price range is to be keptat very low levels somewhat similar to those for the cheapest metaldevices. Whereas metal caln be easily stamped, bent, riveted, spotwelded, andfurnished with riveted or press tted hooks, pins or'springportions, these features or characteristics are not available for woodendevices. The latter must be laboriously cut and fashioned, andconsiderable time is involved even if machinery is used, `includingmillers, shapers, drill presses and grinders. The strength is much lessthan that of metal, especially along the grain. Hence there is the addedproblem of compactness in order not to render the article bulky and toconserve wood. With curtain rods it is also necessary that they shall becapable of insertion into the small hems of curtains which may have beenmounted on metallic rods.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improvedcurtain rod device which shall solve the di'iculties above mentioned andafford a reenforced, strong, compact structure, which is durable, neat,reliable and Aeilicient in use. Other objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent as vthe specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the inven- -tion consists in thenovel combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter described intheir preferred embodiments, pointed out inthe subjoined claims, andillustrated on the annexed drawing, whereinV like parts are designatedby the same reference characters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation showing a curtain roddevice embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom edge of the curtain rod per se.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in side elevation of a holder forlthe curtainrod, according to the linvention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view thereof.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the curtain rod.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a modied curtain rod.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View thereof.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized whenall of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and thesame structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less thanthe whole.

It will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art to which this inventionappertains, that the same may be incorporated in several differentconstructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merelyas showing the preferred exempliiication ofthe invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I0 denotes a curtain rod deviceembodying the invention. The same may include a curtain rod II whichisextensible, since it consists of a plurality of members I2, I3 havingtelescopic or dovetailed sliding engagement with each other. the memberI2 may be considered the'femal'e member, being provided with an undercutgroove I4, while the member I3 may be considered the male element, beingprovided with a longitudinal dovetail portion or flange I5. The lattermay iit in the groove I4 quite snugly, preferably'with a fair degree offriction so as to prevent the members I2, I3 from accidentally slidingrelatively to each other. This facilitates mounting of the curtain rodII in its holders, as hereinafter described. Hence the curtain rod,carrying the curtains, will not ordinarily lose its lengthwiseadjustment 'or slip and complicate the mounting thereof.v

' Each of the memberslZ, I3 is provided 'with openings or notchesAat'one edge, which, inthe mounting position, becomes the lower edge.Thus the member I2'has` notches I 2a and I2b, andthe member I3^hasnotches I3a and I3b. The members I2, I3 may be the same in length, andall the notches are placed in identical relations to the ends of theAmembers. .As shown in the drawing, the notches I2a and I3a are at theoutermost ends of the curtain rod II, in operative position, and thenotches I2b and I3b are in inward inoperative position. But it ispossible to reverse these positions and render the notches |21), I3boperative by merely reversing the direction of relative sliding betweenvthe members, as will be readily apparent. Thus the curtain rod II isadapted for absolutely foolproof use.

At I6 is shown a curtain rod holder embodying For example,

the invention. The same may include a block having a back or ange partI1 formed with parallel holes I8 through which screws can be passed tosecure the holder to a wall or window frame. Carried by the part I1 is ahead I9 having one or more slots which open upwardly to individuallyreceive curtain rods such as shown at I I. By providing two slots,provision is made for hanging two curtains on separate curtain rods II,as in the case of overlapping right and left curtains, The depth of theslots 20 is suicient to receive the curtain rods, and the width thereofis preferably adapted for only one of the members I2, I3 of a curtainrod, as shown,

in order to maintain strength and `cornpactness of the holder I5. It isimportant to note that the slots 20 extend clear through` from side toside of the holders so that .the same are interchangeable and each maybe used at the left .or right.

It is essential to prevent ithe curtain rodfrom slipping endwise .fromthe slots 20, `either. accidentally, or in courseof adjusting the foldsor pleats in the curtain, kor by reason of a pull at a lower part of thecurtain. A second consideration is that any locking engagement which maybe used shall not require the use of metallic or moving parts, which maymake the device prohibitive for the low price eld. Supplemental to thisis the utilitarian consideration that the curtain rod shall bepositively locked by merely placing it in the slots 20. A thirdrequirement is that any locking feature shall preferably reenforce thewood which is considerably weakened by the slots 20, and tends to breakalong the grain,

throughout its length. This pin 23 may extend `from `front to back ofthe holder, but desirably the front is left intact for appearance. Thusthe pin, which may be quite thick, -amply reeenforces the head I9 nearthe base of the slots 20 and resists bendingand tension stresses whichwould crack the wood.V The lower part of the head I9 requires no suchreenforcement since any downward pull causes compression strains on itsiibers Within the slots 20, the pin 23 presents locking 'pin portionswhich may be flush with the bottoms of the slots or above the same, andwhich are central Ato the length of the ,slot-s. These portions 24 areadapted to be readily received Yin Ythe notches I2a, I3a, or |212, lab,as the case may be, depending on which notches are in operativeposition. ,In this manner a plurality of curtain rods II maybe mountedand locked on a pair of holders L6.

It is thus seen that the locking .devices afforded meet all therequirements herein. They constitute more than `mere projections, whichmight be prohibitive iin cost, andwhich might fail to reenforce theholders, thus requiring the use of more wood, and rendering the holdersbulky and expensive. It will be noted that the invention is alsoadvantageous for use of curtain rods of fixed length. Y The manner A,ofusing rthe device I6 will now be described. The operator inserts thecurtain rod I I into the hem of a curtain. She then places one end ofthe curtain rod in a slot 20 of one holder whereupon a notch such as I2aseats around a pin 23. Accordingly this end of the curtain rod islocked, so that the latter may be inserted into a corresponding slot 20of the companion holder and then adjusted in length for a similarlocking engagement with a pin 23. Since this adjustment can be effectedwhile the curtain rod rests in the slots 20, manipulation is greatlyfacilitated. The weight of the curtain and of the curtain rod helpmaintain the engagement which Will not be disturbed by shifting thecurtain, or arranging the folds or pleats thereof, or exerting anangular pull on the curtain.

In Figs. 8 .and .9 is shown a modified extensible curtain .rod 25 whichis like that at II, and includes members 26, 21. The female member 26may bev identical with that at I2, but the male ,member 21 differs fromthat at I3 merely in that a special dovetail I5 is omitted, because itrequires considerable labor to manufacture. -To the contrary, the member21 may be made by merely beveling the longitudinal edges 28,l so thatthe entire member 21 forms a dovetail, but with-out any undercuts. Thissmaller member 21 is reenforced by the member 26. In all other respectsthe members may be like those at I2, I 3 and they are operative in thesame manner as with notches 26a, 2th, 21a and 21h.

It. will thusbe seen that the devices fulfill the objects of theinvention .and are well adapted `for practical use.

I claim.:

1. A curtain rod device including a holder consisting of natural wood,comprising a block having 1a .mounting ange-like portion and a headcarried thereby and integral therewith, said head having an upwardlyopening slot of substantial depth so as to be adapted to receive acurtain rod, a wooden pin extending through the head and passing throughthe lower part of the slot. said pin being glued in the head and-reenforcing the head against breakage along the grain at the slot, anda curtain rod resting in the slot and having a notch to receive the pinto prevent the curtain rod from slipping out of the slot.

2. A curtain rod device including a holder consisting of natural wood,comprising a head having an upwardly open slot extending from side toside of the head, the grain of the wood being generally vertical, a pinextending through the head and passing through the slot at the lowerportion thereof and being fixed .to the head so as toreenforce the samefrom breaking along the grain, and a curtain rod resting in the slot andhaving a notch in its lower edge for receiving. the portion of the pinexposed in theslot "f 3. A curtain rod device including a holder havin ga head provided with an upwardly open slot extending transversely fromside to side of the head, a pin in the head passing transversely throughthe slot .at the lower portion thereof, and a curtain rod fitted in theslot and having a notch removably engaged with the pin. i

4. A curtain rod device including a holder ha ing a head having anupwardly open slot, a pin fixed in the holder and passing transverselythrough the lower portion of the slot, and an extensible curtain rodincluding slidingly engaging members, said members being adapted to beindividually fitted inthe slot, each of said members having notches inits lower edge adjacent to itsends, the notches beinginterchangeably'engageablewiththe pin in the slot upon vmounting thecurtain rod upon a pair of said holders.

5. A curtain rod device including a holder having a head consisting of afibrous material, the head having a plurality of transverse slotsextending yfrom side to side of the head, and a pin extendinglongitudinally through the head and thus passing transversely throughthe slots at the lower portions thereof, whereby the pin reenforces thehead against breakage at the slots and permits a minimum of material tobe used at the walls of the' slots, and a curtain rod resting in theslot and having a notch for releasable locking engagement with the pinso that the curtain rod can be removed without disturbing the pin.

6. A curtain rod device including a holder having a head consisting ofnatural wood and having an upwardly opening slot extending transverselyfrom side to side of the head, a pin extending through the headincluding the slot transversely of the latter and being fixed to thehead to reenforce the same against breakage at the slot, whereby acurtain rod having a notch can be seated in the slot in lockingengagement with the pin.

JOHN DI MARTINO.

